Merry Christmas to one and all.
Cold snap
22 not out
It's 24th December, so the question on everyone's lips is did Richard make it to the top of Moel Famau for the 22nd consecutive Christmas Eve today?
Oh ye of little faith:
Actually, to be honest, I wanted to call it off on account of the heavy snow, but Carolyn and her three kids were pretty persuasive. I'm glad they were: the snow was fantastic.
More photos here.
See also:
[ spoops! ]
Jen and I were catching up on a backlog of Spooks episodes last night (it just hasn't been the same since Agent Jo took a bullet from that grumpy woman from out of Cold Feet), when Jen spotted this:
Is it any bloody wonder the CIA is having so much difficulty fighting so-called Al-Qaeda, when they can't even spell the word terrorism?
Someone should write to the Home Secretary or something.
Boss v King
Be honest, now, we've all secretly wondered what would happen if Elvis returned to Earth and gatecrashed a Springsteen gig:
So now we know
Next week: Glen Miller v U2.
Snap
I'm thinking of making this my new official publicity photograph:
Any thoughts?
Respect where it's not due
Independent: Man sacked for belief in psychics backed by judge (but, of course, he knew that would happen)
A police worker who was sacked because he believed psychics can help solve criminal investigations is to go to court today to defend his right to legal protection from religious discrimination…
In Mr Power's case Judge Peter Russell, sitting at Manchester Employment Tribunal, said: "I am satisfied that the claimant's beliefs that there is life after death and that the dead can be contacted through mediums are worthy of respect in a democratic society and have sufficient cogency, seriousness, cohesion and importance to fall into the category of a philosophical belief for the purpose of the 2003 [Employment Equality (Religion or Belief)] Regulations."
Read the judge's words carefully: "beliefs that there is life after death and that the dead can be contacted through mediums are worthy of respect in a democratic society".
Bollocks.
While we should respect everyone's right to hold whatever crackpot beliefs they might choose, to say that such beliefs are worthy of respect is utter nonsense. For example, the BNP's Nick Griffin is fully entitled to believe whatever racist horse crap he likes—and I would defend his right to do so—but to say that his beliefs are worthy of respect is, as I said, bollocks.
I find it rather worrying that a judge—or, rather, the English legal system—apparently can't see the difference.
Mr Power, your religious beliefs are nuttier than squirrel shit, but you are perfectly entitled to hold them.
No good deed ever goes unpunished
Approaching the checkout at Tesco on Thursday, I couldn't believe my luck when I spotted Laphroaig whisky on offer. I slipped a bottle into my trolley.
I couldn't believe my luck even further when I found the checkout totally empty. I began transferring my shopping on to the conveyor belt, asking the girl on the till not to start loading my stuff into plastic bags, as I had my own reusable ones. It flustered her a bit. Then another girl came and set next to her and asked her if it was her first day—which it was.
To be honest, I felt a bit bad about getting the poor girl flustered on her first day. So, as I was collecting my receipt, I made a point of saying, "I think you're doing absolutely brilliantly, considering it's your first day". The girl was absolutely delighted.
Then I walked through the security scanners, and all hell broke loose.
The stupid tart had forgotten to take the security tag off my bottle of Laphroaig.
To the asshole…
…whose robot posted 670 identical spam comment on old Gruts posts over the last two days, it took me less than five minutes to delete them. These old posts will no longer accept hyperlinks in their comments.
Now why don't you go and get yourself a girlfriend?
Swanzilla
I've produced another of my hilarious Beagle Project promo videos. Careful you don't split your sides:
Scary movie
On account of its being Halloween, here is a scary movie what I shot in my cellar last week. It is unsuitable for people with a nervous disposition.